500 years of the Reformation, Korea (2016)
Artist Statement: "In the background of the painting appears the 1938 edition of the Korean Bible--especially, Romans 1:17 ("the righteous will live by faith"). The cross of Jesus Christ stands in the middle between Martin Luther [(1483-1546)] on the left and Philipp Melanchton [sic][(1497-1560)] on the right. The cross and the three persons beneath it--John the Baptist, Chranach [sic], and Luther-- originally appeared in the alter painting entitled Law and Grace. It is supposed that Lucas Cranach [the Elder (1472-1553)] drew the first draft of the painting and then his son Lucas Cranach the Younger ([1515]-1586) completed it in 1555. Interestingly, a Korean woman next to them is overhearing the gospel. The building beneath Luther is Jangdaehyeon Church, where the revival movement of the Korean church startedin 1907. Meanwhile, the other building beneath Melanchton [sic] is Wittenberg Castle Church. Luther is portrayed as translating the Bible on the right of the bottom. On the left of the bottom the image of children studying in a Korean traditional schoolhouse was borrowed from Hong-do Kim's Seondang, as if they were studying the Bible. This painting portrays the historical process in which the gospel that Luther rediscovered was appreciated by native Koreans." (from the guide for Min's exhibition, "500 jähriges Reformationsjubiläum, Korea," which ran from July 5-10, 2017, at the Gasthaus Ökumene in Wittenberg and from July 12-August 1, 2017 at the Kreuzkirche Alte Bibliothek in Dresden)
Min, Kyeong Ah
민경아
Kim, Hong-do, 1745-
Cranach, Lucas, 1472-1553
Cranach, Lucas, 1515-1586
Sin, Yun-bok
Reformation
Bible. Romans
Study and teaching
Translating and interpreting
Art, Korean
Art, German
Crucifixion
Protestantism
Koreans
History
Christianity
Church buildings
Jesus Christ
Kim, Hong-do, 1745-. Tanwŏn pʻungsok tochʻŏp 단원 풍속 도첩
Luther, Martin, 1483-1546
Melanchthon, Philip, 1497-1560
John, the Baptist, Saint
Schlosskirche zu Wittenberg (Wittenberg, Germany)
P'yŏngyang (Korea)
Twenty-first century
Romans 1
45 x 60 cm
Still image
linocuts (prints)
© Kyeong Ah Min (민경아). Reproduced with permission. This online edition is made available for individual viewing and reference for educational purposes only, such as personal study, preparation for teaching, and research. Your reproduction, distribution, public display or other re-use of any content beyond a fair use as codified in section 107 of US Copyright Law or other applicable privilege is at your own risk. It is your sole responsibility to investigate the copyright status of a work and obtain permission when needed.
Emory University
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